How Kaduna school children, teachers in Zamfara gained freedom

The Defence Headquarters announced on Sunday that troops successfully rescued the kidnapped pupils and teachers from LEA School Kuriga in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna, located within Zamfara State.

The abduction took place on March 7, 2024, when approximately 287 pupils and teachers were forcefully taken by suspected terrorists into the forest. The perpetrators demanded a ransom of N1 billion for their release, setting a deadline of March 27, 2024, for the payment.

However, Major General Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, revealed in a statement that the victims were rescued in the early hours of Sunday by the military, with support from local authorities and government agencies.

Buba confirmed that 137 individuals, including 76 females and 61 males, were rescued. He announced that they would be transported to Kaduna and handed over to the state government.

The statement read, “it would be recalled that, on March 7, 2024, troops received information that terrorists had invaded LEA School Kuriga in Chikun LG of Kaduna State During the incident, an unconfirmed number of pupils were abducted. Following the incident, the military committed to leaving no stone unturned until all the hostages were rescued.

“Accordingly, in the early hours of March 24, 2024, the military, working with local authorities and government agencies across the country, in a coordinated search and rescue operation, rescued the hostages.

“The hostages are the same persons that were abducted from the school at Kuriga in Chikun LGA of Kaduna State.

“The rescued hostages totaling 137 comprise of 76 females and 61 males were rescued in Zamfara State and would be conveyed and handed over to the Kaduna State Government for further action.”

The rescue of the Kaduna pupils is coming a day after troops rescued 16 pupils with a woman taken hostage in Gada LGA of Sokoto State.

The troops have handed over the rescued victims to the Sokoto State Government.

Buba added that the recent success of the troops was a testament to their resolve to rescue kidnapped victims across the country.

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Buba noted that similar efforts have been put in place to track down those behind the killing of soldiers in Delta State.

“These efforts demonstrate the armed forces’ resolve to find other innocent hostages and track down the terrorists that perpetrated these crimes.

“These efforts would continue until other hostages are found and the terrorists arrested, tried, and brought to justice by Nigerian law.

“Troops are employing similar efforts to track down the culprits responsible for the killings of 18 soldiers in Okuama Community in Delta State,” he added.

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